Compression stay for citrus fruit boxes



Nov. 29, 1932.

.1. L.. GEORGE COMPRESSION STAY FOR CITRUS FRUIT BOXES Filed Oct. 19. 1931 INVENTOR. 1J. L GEORGE ATTORNEY.

x KA Patented Nov. 29, 1932 .UNrrlazDf STAT-Es PATENT `-oFF1Epg JA'YL. GEORGE, onl RIVERSIDE, cALnzoRNIA4 coMPREssIoNsTAYyF-on ci'rnus 'FRUIT Boxes Appneatinnniea 'octbef 19, 1931. serial No. 569,643.

Thisy invention relates to improvements in A further objectof my invention is tofpro-v vide a box strapincluding novel means to r prevent thestrap from catching when being handled.

A further object of my 'invention is to provide a box strap having driving ends including two portions angularly arranged.

Other objects and the advantages of. this invention will be apparent from the follow# ing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 1s a perspective View of a citrus invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the box on a reduced scale.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing thebox strap crimped to compensate for the shrinkage of the oranges. v f

Fig. 4t is an enlarged fragmentaryview of my improved box strap. y

'Fig'. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section through a box showing the strap shown in Fig. 3 operatively secured thereto and Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of *to a box strap having a modified form of spur; Referring to the drawing by reference characters I have indicated a citrus fruit v box generally at 10. The box 10 is of they of a box to retain lapressur'e on theoranges packing box embodying the features of my a box such as the box 10, are Apiled higher ad` f i jacent the partition llthan-atv the endsvk so that whenthe lid 16 isnailedin position it bulges upward inthe center and retains a v pressure on the oranges. If the oranges rei 55 main'in storage in the crate for an extended period theywill shrink to a certain' extent whereupon the lid'ceases toexert suiicie'nt pressure thereon and should the crate bey moved about the oranges will bump together @OQ and bruise one another andbecome,spoiled.`

My improved strap which I have4 indicated generally at 20v isjde'signe'd to cause the lid as they` shrink. As shown the strap20 in' cludes a single lengthof'wire 21Whic'h is` Y preferably roundin cross; section. The wire y21 includes straight .portions `22 ,and end portions or spur'port-ions 2 8. These spur por-` tions 23 arebent at morev than aV right angle 70v relative tothe straightportion's 22 as shown in Fig. 4 and converge towards eachother. VV The spur portions 23 each include a straight portion X-and asecond straight portion Y F arranged at a. Slight, angie to the p0rn@ :'16

The portions'23 are provided with aV plurality of transverse vrinde'ntationsv indicated at 25 and the lends-of the as indicated-at 26. Y v Y VThe straight portion 22 Iof the Wire21 is 50 preferably ground flat on! opposite sidesjas indicated-'at 27 With the flat facesat right anglesfto the axis of the spurs 28 (see Figs.

4 and 5). This flat face-extends from adj acent the spurs23 towards the center a pre- S determined distance depending upon 'the size of thebox-lO. A l. AWhen using my improved box vstrap 2O the` filled cratel() is placed'in the liddingfina-- chine, the lid 16 arranged over thecrateand l90 a strap 20 arranged over the lid T16 *inline with thecenter ypartition 15. K 'A portion-of thestrap- 210 extendsl beyond the sides of the crate andis bent downwardly asindicated at 28 and after the lid is secured. the spurs 23 @5 are pushed through one of the box side members 13 andinto the center partition as clear! ly shown in Fig. 6. As the spurs 23am pushed through the side members 13 andin'to the center `partition 15 theportions X andlY e' pprtionsaajare pointed# f i' if Itheorangesfslirinl; vto Isuch an extent.

i being inclined cause the spurs 23 to move up'- 1 Y Ward ata greaterangle than the inclinations of the vportions thereby making it extremely ditHcultto dislodge the embedded members. The corrugations 25on ythe spurs also assist inretaining the'spurs in position- The spursV 23 take a-someyvhatg-curved'position Whenin set position@ g' Y fAfter the spurs;23lhave'beenl secured inv g vprisingfa single 'sectiony which is straight and f" position the crate ifs-removed from vthe `lid' vding machine whereupony :the or'angesj cause. f,

` the lid i6, to bulge transversely' against' the 'y i' Y resiliency of the strap QGasshoWn' in Fig. `6.-

',ThegspursQS are lirmlyheld in Yplace Vand n only With ditlic'ulty can asfpurbe Withdrawn.

i' that the Vstrap 20 `does not retain-the lid 16 in l VContact' with theroranges an Voperator;'mayI pressdownwardly on the lid'l andvvth a #pair ofplyers or otherysuitable tool graspl the-wire Qi .and vkinlzit or twist itintoa loop as l indicated'.I at 29 in Fig; Whereupon y when. the lpressure on ythe lid is Y released. the

Y' strap 20Willl again fresiliently retain the .lid linicontact with thejforanges; Withemy 1in#` 'proved spurs this 'action vwill lnotV pull out .l

i unloading i Y;Inshipplngyor-anges lthe boXesare-packed in tov the Vcai-in which they are shippedk in tightiengagement so..V that they cannot move n Vandfjainagainst.,eachother Which. makesit extremely diiiieu'lt' toreinove the; (boxes 'when i 1n testimony W signature.'

i and is arranged atan angle to said irst single l end section.

. 2.` A compression stay forcitru's fruit boxes n comprising va single length of metal,A thencenrtralportion of which is cylindrical with Hat? tened portions arrangedateach side of said' central portion, said stay including rough- Y' ened end portions terminatinga sharpened Y point, said roughened end portions each com- 'aisecond 'single' section which is straight and is accontinuation of andais'farranged at an portion.

tion being bentatranxangle to saidgattened I end 'meinbers, a. central I partition member,

sides-engaging said end `members andY said y central partition member,- and a lidjland a stay, said stay: comprising alength 'of Wire engaging said lid and having endl portions j ranged out of astraight linefvvhereby they may not be easilywithdrawn. ,Y hereof, I'Ahereuntofaix my l thanif the'flattened portionsgwerenot pro-v vided.rk As shown inlligwfvthe flattened portions 27 preferably*extendfrom thespursl23 I Y to afpointadistanceinwardly'fromfthe edge ofthe lid.V` A ig. Q ,y i' Y r'ln Fig: Ilihavesho'wn lmyimproved box I 1 Strap .20 asprovdedwtha meddjfom Qf. "spur 30. iThespur BOissha-ped'thessameas the spur 23 but instead .Off.theindentations Iprovide a plurality kof `raised prongs 31. :on

j the 'spurvvhichwhen vthe-spur 30 is embedded n in a centerV partition vtot an orange crate assist .Y -sb i make itsubstantiallyhalf round tosecuretlie Atolpreventdislodgrnent oithespur. *Instead of flattening both sides of thestayl may same effect.

straight vand a .second single end section which Vis straight 'and `isV al v`C'Ontimu'ationL of the;foregoingdescription` itV will be u apparent vth'at'I have",provided.afcoinpression f A fbox' 'stra-p which is simple in construction and Y highlyeiiicientandeconomicalin use. u Y describedmy-inventiom I i Van,.g ,1le to' said-first singl'esectionsaid iirst sec- 'l .23. The combnationofa cltriisboxhavingVA n )iop ^ fils 

